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Frontotemporal DementiaReRescuePGRNCT02999282

Rehabilitative Trial for the Rescue of Neurophysiological Parameters in Progranulin Deficient Subjects

A study testing Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation in people with Frontotemporal Dementia and GRN Related Frontotemporal Dementia, run by Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia at 1 site in Italy.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, the investigators will evaluate the effects of frontal and prefrontal anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on neurophysiological parameters of cortical connectivity, assessed by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in asymptomatic subjects… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
70 participants
Where
1 siteItaly
Study dates
31 Oct 2016to 30 Jun 2019
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

None listed.

Who cannot join

  • Cerebrovascular disorders, previous stroke, hydrocephalus, and intra-cranial mass documented by MRI.
  • History of traumatic brain injury or other neurological diseases.
  • Serious medical illness other than FTD
  • History of seizures
  • Pregnancy
  • Metal implants in the head (except dental fillings)
  • Electronic implants (i.e. pace-maker, implanted medical pump)
  • Age <18 years

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Italy1 site
  • Azienda Ospedaliera Spedali Civili di Brescia

    Brescia, 25123

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Official title: Rehabilitative Trial for the Recovery of Neurophysiological Parameters in Progranulin Mutation Carriers Through the Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, the investigators will evaluate the effects of frontal and prefrontal anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on neurophysiological parameters of cortical connectivity, assessed by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in asymptomatic subjects bearing a pathogenic GRN mutation and in symptomatic patients with frontotemporal dementia.

Read the detailed description

In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, the investigators will evaluate the effects of frontal and prefrontal anodal transcranial magnetic stimulation (tDCS) on neurophysiological parameters of cortical connectivity, assessed by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in asymptomatic subjects bearing a pathogenic GRN mutation and in symptomatic patients with frontotemporal dementia.

All patients will undergo genetic screening for progranulin mutations, a baseline neuropsychological and neurophysiological evaluation, including assessment of short interval intracortical inhibition, intracortical facilitation, short interval intracortical facilitation and long interval intracortical inhibition. Subjects will then be randomized in two groups, one receiving a 10 day (5 days/week for 2 weeks) treatment with anodal frontal and prefrontal anodal tDCS and the other receiving sham stimulation with identical parameters. After the intervention, patients will be reassessed with a neuropsychological and neurophysiological evaluation at 2 weeks, 1 month (only neurophysiological evaluation), 3 months and 6 month after treatment.

Being tested
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation, Sham transcranial direct current stimulation
Keywords
TMS, tDCS, Rehabilitation
Medical subject headings
Frontotemporal Dementia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Anodal transcranial direct current stimulationDevice

    10 sessions of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (5 days/week for 2 weeks)

  • Sham transcranial direct current stimulationDevice

    10 sessions of sham transcranial direct current stimulation (5 days/week for 2 weeks)

Study groups in NCT02999282
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Presymptomatic real tDCSExperimentalAsymptomatic subjects - 10 days anodal transcranial direct current stimulation
Receives: Device: Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation
Presymptomatic sham tDCSSham comparatorAsymptomatic subjects - 10 days sham transcranial direct current stimulation
Receives: Device: Sham transcranial direct current stimulation
Symptomatic real tDCSExperimentalSymptomatic patients - 10 days anodal transcranial direct current stimulation
Receives: Device: Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation
Symptomatic sham tDCSSham comparatorSymptomatic patients - 10 days sham transcranial direct current stimulation
Receives: Device: Sham transcranial direct current stimulation

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in SICI measurements from Baseline

    By using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the investigators will evaluate the effects of frontal and prefrontal anodal transcranial magnetic stimulation on short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI)

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks

  2. Change in ICF measurements from Baseline

    By using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the investigators will evaluate the effects of frontal and prefrontal anodal transcranial magnetic stimulation on intracortical facilitation (ICF).

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks

Secondary outcomes (16)
  1. Change in SICI measurements from Baseline

    By using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the investigators will evaluate the effects of frontal and prefrontal anodal transcranial magnetic stimulation on short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI)

    Measured: Baseline - 1 month - 3 months - 6 months

  2. Change in ICF measurements from Baseline

    By using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the investigators will evaluate the effects of frontal and prefrontal anodal transcranial magnetic stimulation on intracortical facilitation (ICF).

    Measured: Baseline - 1 month - 3 months - 6 months

  3. Change in LICI measurements from Baseline

    By using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the investigators will evaluate the effects of frontal and prefrontal anodal transcranial magnetic stimulation on long interval intracortical inhibition (LICI).

    Measured: Baseline - 1 month - 3 months - 6 months

  4. Change in SICF measurements from Baseline

    By using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the investigators will evaluate the effects of frontal and prefrontal anodal transcranial magnetic stimulation on short interval intracortical facilitation (SICF).

    Measured: Baseline - 1 month - 3 months - 6 months

  5. Change in MMSE scores from Baseline

    The Mini Mental State Examination (MMMSE) is a 30-point questionnaire that is used to measure cognitive impairment.

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

  6. Change in phonemic fluencies scores from Baseline

    Produce as many words as possible beginning with a specified letter in 60 seconds

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

  7. Change in semantic fluencies scores from Baseline

    Produce as many words as possible from a category in 60 seconds

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

  8. Change in digit span forward scores from Baseline

    Participants hear a sequence of numerical digits and are tasked to recall the sequence correctly, with increasingly longer sequences being tested in each trial. The participant's span is the longest number of sequential digits that can accurately be remembered.

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

  9. Change in digit span backward scores from Baseline

    Participants hear a sequence of numerical digits and are tasked to recall the sequence correctly in reverse order, with increasingly longer sequences being tested in each trial. The participant's span is the longest number of sequential digits that can accurately be remembered.

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

  10. Change in camel and cactus test scores from Baseline

    Evaluates associative semantic memory with 64 items presented for naming and word-picture matching.

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

  11. Change in TMTA scores from Baseline

    The task requires a subject to connect a sequence of 25 consecutive targets on a sheet of paper to examine cognitive processing speed.

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

  12. Change in TMTB scores from Baseline

    The task requires a subject to connect a sequence of 25 consecutive targets on a sheet of paper, alternating between numbers and letters, to examine executive functioning.

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

  13. Change in Stroop test scores from Baseline

    Measure a person's selective attention capacity and skills, as well as their processing speed ability.

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

  14. Change in Symbol Digit test scores from Baseline

    It consists of digit-symbol pairs followed by a list of digits. Under each digit the subject should write down the corresponding symbol as fast as possible. The number of correct symbols within the allowed time is measured.

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

  15. Change in Block Design test scores from Baseline

    To evaluated spatial visualization ability and motor skills. The test-taker uses hand movements to rearrange blocks that have various color patterns on different sides to match a pattern. The items in a block design test are scored both by accuracy in matching the pattern and by speed in completing each item.

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

  16. Change in The modified EkmanFaces Test from Baseline

    Each face is presented on a sheet with six labels of basic emotions below the photograph. The patient was required to respond verbally, deciding the label that best described the facial expression shown.

    Measured: Baseline - 2 weeks - 3 months - 6 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted21 Dec 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study start31 Oct 2016
  3. Primary completion30 Jun 2019
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2019

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator
Enrolment
70 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02999282
Sponsor's protocol ID
NP2441
Acronym
ReRescuePGR
Status last verified
Mar 2020
First submitted
2 Dec 2016
Last updated
3 Mar 2020
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
Individual data sharing
Yes: All data, including outcome measure results, study protocol and statistical analysis plan, will be shared.

Publications

  • Benussi A, Cosseddu M, Filareto I, Dell'Era V, Archetti S, Sofia Cotelli M, Micheli A, Padovani A, Borroni B. Impaired long-term potentiation-like cortical plasticity in presymptomatic genetic frontotemporal dementia. Ann Neurol. 2016 Sep;80(3):472-6. doi: 10.1002/ana.24731. Epub 2016 Aug 10.

    PubMed 27438089
  • Bikson M, Grossman P, Thomas C, Zannou AL, Jiang J, Adnan T, Mourdoukoutas AP, Kronberg G, Truong D, Boggio P, Brunoni AR, Charvet L, Fregni F, Fritsch B, Gillick B, Hamilton RH, Hampstead BM, Jankord R, Kirton A, Knotkova H, Liebetanz D, Liu A, Loo C, Nitsche MA, Reis J, Richardson JD, Rotenberg A, Turkeltaub PE, Woods AJ. Safety of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Evidence Based Update 2016. Brain Stimul. 2016 Sep-Oct;9(5):641-661. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2016.06.004. Epub 2016 Jun 15.

    PubMed 27372845
  • Rossini PM, Burke D, Chen R, Cohen LG, Daskalakis Z, Di Iorio R, Di Lazzaro V, Ferreri F, Fitzgerald PB, George MS, Hallett M, Lefaucheur JP, Langguth B, Matsumoto H, Miniussi C, Nitsche MA, Pascual-Leone A, Paulus W, Rossi S, Rothwell JC, Siebner HR, Ugawa Y, Walsh V, Ziemann U. Non-invasive electrical and magnetic stimulation of the brain, spinal cord, roots and peripheral nerves: Basic principles and procedures for routine clinical and research application. An updated report from an I.F.C.N. Committee. Clin Neurophysiol. 2015 Jun;126(6):1071-1107. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.02.001. Epub 2015 Feb 10.

    PubMed 25797650

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation in people with Frontotemporal Dementia and GRN Related Frontotemporal Dementia, run by Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia at 1 site in Italy.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 0 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Mar 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in SICI measurements from Baseline (time frame: Baseline - 2 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02999282, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Mar 2020.

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